by Nina Bangs
“Yeah, it is strange.” Ty glanced at Fin.
Kelly understood. Only Fin knew the Eleven’s secrets. But she wondered why he didn’t share any of them with his men. Trust wasn’t the first word that came to mind when she thought of Fin.
But Kelly forgot about Fin as she watched Neva fling herself again and again at Car, despite the fact that she wasn’t getting anywhere with him.
Finally, Car roared at Neva, sending her into another frenzy of leaping and snapping.
“He’s losing his patience.” Fin sounded worried as he watched from behind Kelly. “I’ll have to get him out of there before he hurts her.”
“What exactly was he supposed to be doing?” She finally got a good look at Neva’s eyes. Kelly recognized the emotion in them.
“I thought Car would scare her so much she’d cower in a corner somewhere.” Fin seemed puzzled that his plan hadn’t worked.
“She’s out of her mind with fear. Neva’s not reacting rationally. You don’t help by adding to her fear.” Kelly wondered whether Neva would become like her savage pack mates once she accepted her change and lost her terror. Or did werewolves have individual personalities as humans did? So much she didn’t know.
Ty put in his two cents. “She must realize she can’t get past him.”
Angry, Kelly turned on him. “Have you ever been afraid, really afraid?”
“No.” He sounded definite about that.
“Well, I have. When I was about five, my dad thought he’d give me an up-close look at a big snake. He didn’t think anything of it. The snake wasn’t poisonous, and he knew I loved animals, especially the large carnivores. Well, I went crazy. Screamed, fought, and worked myself into a frenzy. Threw up all over the place. Nothing Dad said could calm me down, even after he got rid of the snake. I’m still terrified of them.”
“Your point is?” Fin sounded impatient.
“Fear is a human thing. I understand it. And Neva is terrified. Let me go in and try to calm her down.” A human thing. Kelly realized her mistake three words too late. She’d neatly drawn a line between them. Human on one side, the Eleven on the other.
Ty narrowed his eyes. He’d gotten her point. “You’re right. We think like animals. But fear isn’t just a human emotion. I never felt it because I was at the top of the food chain. Ask some of the plant-eaters about fear. So what’s your plan?” Anger simmered in his voice.
Kelly sighed. “Sorry, guys. I just meant that if you’ve never been afraid, you don’t know how it feels. I can relate, so maybe I can find a way to defuse the situation. Besides, I’m used to the wolves at the zoo.” Did that make sense? Probably not to them.
Ty snorted his contempt. “In other words, you don’t have a plan.”
She dug into her jeans pocket and pulled out her pepper spray. “Fin, do you have anything nonlethal I can borrow to protect myself?”
Fin nodded at the dark-haired woman, who opened a metal cabinet standing beside the door. She pulled out a gun and handed it to Kelly. “Taser. Hit her at about fifteen feet if you think she’s coming for you.”
“Thanks.” Kelly drew in a deep, calming breath. “I’m ready.”
Fin didn’t comment, just rapped on the door and waved Car out.
When Car’s human form was back in the driver’s seat, he slipped out of the room, his expression harsh with controlled rage. “I can’t stand this world. Don’t know how much more holding-everything-in I can take.”
Kelly knew better than to say anything. But when Car turned his gaze briefly on her, she got a surprise. She’d thought he’d have black eyes to match his personality and what passed for his heart. Surprise. They were the purest green she’d ever seen. Eyes so beautiful were wasted on Car.
As she reached for the door, Ty put his hand over hers. “I’ll go in with you.”
The word “no” formed in her head. If she were a heroine in some book, she’d go in by herself and do her calming-the-savage-beast routine. But she wasn’t a heroine, and she had enough common sense to know that Neva could rip her apart before she had a chance to get “I’m your friend” out of her mouth.
Ty pushed harder. “I won’t frighten her. I’ll crouch down and make myself small.”
That dragged a smile from Kelly. “Right.”
Taking her smile as acceptance, he pulled the door open and slipped into the room with Kelly. As promised, he moved a few feet away from her and crouched down.
Without the solid door between herself and Neva, some of Kelly’s courage wilted. She could only hope the woman retained her human understanding inside that big scary wolf’s body.
When Car left, Neva raced to the other side of the room. Once again she was leaping into the air, trying to reach windows way too small for her to squeeze through even if she could jump high enough to reach them.
Kelly must have made a noise, or maybe it was just the ker-thump ker-thump of her wildly pounding heart that alerted Neva. Kelly swallowed hard as the werewolf swung to face her. Omigod. Was Neva really that big, that ferocious, and was Kelly really that scared? Yep to all three.
With a furious roar, Neva crouched and then launched herself at Kelly. In the time it took to register death racing toward her, Kelly reviewed all the soothing and logical things she’d meant to say to Neva. One problem. No. Freaking. Time.
“Lift your arm and aim the damn taser.” Ty’s command was a harsh shout.
Lift? Taser? Kelly shook her head, trying to clear it, trying to make sense of what was happening through the fog of sheer, life-sucking panic.
Neva peeled her lips back from enormous teeth as she prepared to make the final leap that would land her on top of her quivering prey.
Kelly raised the hand holding the taser. It was trembling wildly.
Neva crouched low, ready to spring off her powerful haunches. Kelly heard Ty jumping to his feet. She knew that in a few seconds the two would explode into violence while she stood watching them try to kill each other.
Do something. Now. Kelly opened her mouth to speak and only made a gurgling sound. Way to go, Maloy. She tried again. “Stop!”
Neva froze and recognition flared in her eyes. Kelly exhaled shakily. Relief made her light-headed.
Ty grunted his opinion of the whole chain of events. “This is why Fin doesn’t want humans involved in the battle. You’re not prepared for attacks by shape-shifters, vampires, and things like that.”
No kidding. If Neva had been a charging lion, Kelly still would have been scared shitless, but she wouldn’t have let the fear paralyze her. “Give me a break. I’m not trained for combat.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll do better next time.”
“Forget next time.”
Neva’s low growl jerked her attention back to the wolf. “Try to calm down, Neva,” Kelly said in her most soothing tone. “The werewolves made you one of them, but you’ll be able to return to human form. You just have to give it time.” She didn’t know if that was true, but if it eased Neva’s terror, she’d lie all day and all night long. “We only want to help you.” That at least was true.
For the first time, Neva’s ears pricked forward. A good sign.
Giving Ty a warning glance, Neva crept closer. Kelly tried to convince herself the wolf’s walk was just a walk, not a stalk. As she drew near Kelly, Neva bared her teeth again.
Oh, crap. “I’m talking to the human in you, Neva. The part that can reason. Let me help you.”
Ty made a disgusted sound. “I’m talking to the animal in you, Neva. Hurt Kelly and I’ll rip you apart.”
Neva looked as if she was considering both options.
“I know a werewolf—not anyone belonging to the pack that hurt you—who’ll know what to do.” Please let her gray wolf friend call. Kelly fixed her gaze somewhere left of Neva’s head. No direct eye contact to signal aggression.
When Neva finally reached Kelly, she sat down with a wolfy whine, misery dimming her amber eyes.
Thank you, God. “I don’t know how you
turn back to human form. Maybe if you relax a little, it’ll come naturally.” Or not.
Kelly sensed what she had to do next. It was a symbol of her trust in Neva, even though she wasn’t feeling particularly trusting right now. Just do it. Trying to look relaxed while wondering if she should kiss her hand good-bye, Kelly reached out to touch Neva.
Ty didn’t try to stop her. Chalk one up for his control. But he could also see she had a firm grip on the taser.
Her legs felt like rubber by the time she finally rested her hand on Neva’s head. “Ty, Q, and all the other guys here are different.” After seeing Car, Kelly figured Neva already understood that. “But they want to help you.”
Neva glanced at Ty again. She didn’t look convinced.
Kelly rushed into speech. “You’ll probably have to stay in the condo until I find my wolf friend. It’s a lot safer here than the apartment.”
Neva’s panicked expression returned.
“Okay, okay, I’ll stay with you.”
Neva seemed to accept that.
“I’m taking you out of this room now. I think you’re smart enough to know running away won’t solve anything. There’s no way you could find someone to help you on your own.”
Praying she was reading the wolf’s expression right, Kelly opened the door. The men on the other side backed away. Ty followed Neva and Kelly out.
“I’ll stay the night with her.” Kelly hoped her tone sounded calm and unafraid.
“Then I’m staying too.” Ty’s tone signaled not negotiable. “And don’t insult Neva. She’s a wolf right now, and she can smell your fear. It’s an animal thing.”
Kelly winced. Payback. She glanced at Neva. The wolf was staring at Ty with new respect.
“Look, she’s my driver. I’ll stay with her tonight. You guys can go home.” Q looked resigned.
Neva’s low growl made her opinion perfectly clear.
Q shrugged. “Hey, I’m deeply hurt, but it looks like she wants to stay with you guys.”
Silence fell as Fin thought about the situation. Then he nodded. “Ty, Kelly, and Neva, follow me.”
Obediently, they all trailed after him. Kelly was beginning to understand a little better how he controlled his men. She for one didn’t even consider not following him.
Fin led them down to the second floor. He stopped in front of a double door, threw both doors wide, then stepped aside. “I’ll send up something for you to eat. Then get some sleep. You have a busy night ahead of you. If you have to walk Neva, try not to let anyone see her. I’ll hang a leash by the door.”
Neva looked stricken.
“Sorry about that. But Houston has strict leash laws. Be thankful I don’t make Ty carry a pooper scooper.” He strode away without looking back.
“Walk Neva?” Kelly looked at the wolf.
The wolf’s expression said, Duh?
Ty smiled, a slow slide of wicked anticipation.
Kelly thought she knew why. “Fin only gave us one room. Where’re you going to sleep?”
“Where do you want me to sleep?” His gaze seared her with the heat of all his sexual hunger.
The answer she wanted to give fought a silent battle with the one she ought to give.
Neva didn’t seem to give a damn about where Ty slept. She wandered past them into the huge room.
Maybe Ty expected Kelly to argue with him, or maybe he wasn’t looking beyond a possible night of pleasure. Who knew what he was thinking? Kelly was thinking they could settle this later, because Neva was back at the door whining.
“Neva needs to go outside.” Without meeting his gaze, she headed for the stairs with Neva padding beside her.
Ty kept pace with her. He had to admit to a little disappointment. Even though he’d resented Kelly’s hint that he didn’t think like a human, she was right. Sex was to be enjoyed. Nothing complicated about the process. But he’d learned enough about human behavior to know there were rituals attached to everything people did. So he’d expected, no, looked forward to an argument about sharing a bed where sex might take place. The fight hadn’t happened. But the sex still might. That thought cheered him up.
Kelly stopped by the front door. “Wait here. I left my jacket in the media room.”
Ty waited until Kelly was out of hearing before turning his attention to Neva. “Look, I know tonight has been rough for you. And if you need any help adapting to your animal nature, just yell.” He thought about that. “Or howl.”
As promised, Fin already had a leash hanging on a hook. Nothing fancy, just a long piece of rope. Ty tied it loosely around Neva’s neck. “It’s just for show.”
Neva still looked suspicious.
“I need a favor. Kelly and I will be sleeping in the only bed. She’d appreciate some privacy. Me, I don’t care if you watch or not.” He shrugged. “Guess it’s the animal in me.”
Neva gave him a drop-dead look.
Okay, nice never worked with some people. “Don’t come anywhere near that bed. Sleep on the couch. Sleep on the floor. But don’t set one paw on that bed.” He made sure his smile showed lots of teeth for emphasis.
Neva wilted beneath his threat. She turned scared eyes up to him.
Hell, no. He wouldn’t let sympathy for her get in the way of what he wanted. Did he ever think about how pathetic his prey looked right before a kill? Never. If he let Neva’s expression bother him, it would be proof that humanity was catching. He couldn’t afford to worry about the emotions of others if he expected to help take down Nine.
With a disgusted grunt, he watched Kelly return wearing her still-bloody jacket. Picking up the end of Neva’s rope, Ty waited.
Once outside and away from the condo’s floodlights, the night wrapped around them. Kelly rubbed her hands together. “Chilly.”
“Feels good.” If he faced away from the building and stared into the night, he could almost believe he was free again, in the body he missed, with the remembered power surging through him. He glanced at Kelly. But the one thing he wanted to do most, he’d do as a human.
Kelly looked at the big lawn that ended in a small wooded area. “Fin’s protected this building, hasn’t he?”
He nodded. “The building and probably the land up to where the trees begin.”
The words had barely left his mouth when Neva lifted her head, sniffed the air, and took off toward the trees. When she hit the end of the rope, Ty hung on. The rope snapped.
“Hell.”
“Tell me she isn’t trying to run away. She just wants privacy, right?” Kelly took a few steps toward the woods.
“No on both counts.” He knew he sounded grim. “Go back and find Fin. Tell him to get out here.”
Kelly dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out her cell phone. “I don’t have Fin’s number. Do you?”
“Nope.”
Ty didn’t need help, and he could call Fin just by opening their mental link. But he wanted Kelly safe before he did anything.
“I can’t believe you don’t have his number.” But she turned and ran back to the condo. He waited until she was out of sight before following Neva. The howling started just as he reached the trees. It wasn’t an angry howl or even a frightened one. If he was reading it right, the howl was just sad.
So he wasn’t surprised when he found the wolf standing over a body, howling mournfully. Shit. One glance confirmed the cause of death. Puncture wounds, blood drained. Vampire attack. The glance also confirmed the victim’s identity. Double shit.
He extended his senses, searching for the killer. No vampire. But there was something else close by. Neva responded to that something with a growl. “Yeah, a cat. Maybe we’ll go see what it wants.”
“I think if we wait, it’ll come to us.” Fin appeared out of the darkness with Kelly right behind him.
She looked pissed. “I broke speed records getting to Fin, and then I remembered you have instant-messaging capability.” Kelly touched her index finger to her forehead. “You just wanted to get rid of me.�
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Ty exhaled deeply. “It didn’t work too well, did it?”
“He wanted to keep you safe, Kelly.” Fin sounded like he was on Ty’s side.
Ty looked down at the body. “Steve. I guess he didn’t make it to Dallas after all. A vampire kill. I hope our new friend Jude isn’t involved. We only have his word that he’s on our side. He did us a favor last night, but he was helping himself too.” He peered into the surrounding trees. “Something else is out there. Not vampire.”
The animal scream came right on cue.
“That’s a big cat. It’s the same cry I heard last night in Memorial Park.” Kelly crouched down next to the body. “What was Steve doing here?” She looked up at Ty. “You terrified him. He didn’t want to be anywhere near you again.” Her words were laced with sorrow.
Ty felt frustration tugging at him. This near-stranger’s death was bringing out all kinds of emotions in Kelly and Neva that made him uncomfortable—sadness, regret. He couldn’t ever remember feeling loss over another’s death. But then he’d always hunted alone, and his matings were fast, fierce, and over.
All he felt now was rage at whatever vampire had killed this man just because he’d worked for Fin. And Ty had no doubt that was the motivation.
“Balan is here.” Fin’s voice was calm, no hint of tension in it. He didn’t even spare a glance at the body.
A cold bastard. The thought surprised Ty. He’d always admired Fin’s power to handle any crisis with emotionless efficiency. That made him a good leader. But now that Ty was thinking about emotions, he realized Fin had even fewer than he did. At least Ty could express honest rage. Fin got angry when he wanted to manipulate, but he could turn it off at will. He never burned hot about anything.
Kelly’s gasp and Neva’s low growl alerted him that their visitor had arrived.
“A jaguar?” Kelly sounded more awed than frightened.
“Balan,” Fin corrected.
The large black cat emerged from the shadows, its golden eyes fixed on them. It moved with the powerful grace of its kind. And Ty knew exactly how a jaguar moved because among the millions of bits of knowledge Fin had fed to him had been visuals of earth’s animals in their natural habitats. Fin was always thorough.